DO Impact  aims to foster a new understanding of the transformative potential of digital and data-driven approaches within the PSE sector.

It seeks to:

• Enhance awareness about the opportunities for PSE SMEs to digitalise their businesses and operations
• Encourage key stakeholders across the EU to recognise the role of digitalisation in driving social innovation and sustainability
• Provide upskilling and re-skilling opportunities to Social Economy Enabling Organisations and Social Economy SMEs.

The project recently carried out a survey to capture key findings and to understand better Social Economy Enabling Organisations’ needs, challenges and experiences related to digitalisation and data.  

Social Economy Enabling Organisations, meaning entities that support and promote the development and functioning of the Proximity and Social Economy ecosystem by managing a network of social economy organisations (such as cooperatives, mutual benefit societies, associations, foundations, and social enterprises), creating networking opportunities, providing direct support to them, etc. Social Economy Enabling Organisations have an important role in driving the digital transformation/transition of SMEs/entities working in the social economy sector.

Findings include:  

• 62% of respondent organisations declare an intermediate digitalisation level
• Data analysis and database development skills are required  
• Social Economy Enabling Organisations want to be able to analyse social economy trends better
• Social Economy Enabling Organisations want to be able to develop a digitalisation strategy end roadmap better
• Main challenges to digitalisation in the sector is a lack of internal competencies and knowledge, high implementation costs and at times an internal resistance to change  

This Capacity Building training for Social Economy Enabling Organisations is encapsulated in a learning journey that will provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of how digitalisation, data strategies, and ethical data practices can drive positive change within the social economy. The sessions will cover a wide range of topics, including the benefits of digital tools for project management, data-sharing for social good, and the use of data in advocating for systemic policy changes. Key elements will involve practical workshops on open platforms for project management, data analysis and visualisation, and exploring the use of AI.

Find out more about DO Impact and join the LinkedIn community where you can find out about how to participate in upcoming capacity building programmes.